Learning to Give, Philanthropy education resources that teach giving and civic engagement
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Unit Purpose:
Students will learn about the importance and privilege of making healthy and sustainable food choices. They will understand that many people in the world do not have the choice of what to eat due to food insecurity. They will brainstorm some ways that they can address local and global food insecurity and choose to take action.
Unit Duration:
Three 45-Minute Sessions, Plus time to carry out a service project
Unit Objectives:
The learner will
- identify the different food groups and give examples of each.
- recognize that the food pyramid is designed for U.S. diets and may not be appropriate for other countries.
- develop an awareness of limited food resources globally.
- define scarcity, resources, food insecurity, opportunity cost and stewardship.
- identify feasible behaviors that will help sustain scarce resources.
- identify personal food waste and reflect on its impact.
- relate Beatrice's experience with poverty to his or her own ability to help.
- plan and implement a service project to address food insecurity.
Service Experience:
Students address a food insecurity issue through a service project. Food-relief projects include delivering food to and sorting food at a food pantry. They may write letters or advertise for a local charity or hold a collection drive. They can raise money in support of the organization or hold a food collection for people in need.
They may choose to raise money to purchase an animal for a family through Heifer International, the organization that gave Beatrice’s family the goat. Heifer International uses money that is donated to provide livestock and training to families in need. View the Heifer website at http://www.heifer.org/. The decision to address food insecurity should come from the children as much as possible – it needs to be an internally generated concept to truly take hold. Your group may decide to do more than one service project.
Bibliographical References:
FreeRice.com
Practice basic skills while earning rice for hungry people worldwide:
www.freerice.com
Heifer International
A nonprofit that provides livestock and training to families in need.
http://www.heifer.org/
McBrier, Page. Beatrice's Goat. Aladdin, 2004. ISBN-13: 978-0689869907
Uplifting and concerning facts about the current state of international hunger. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs290/en/index.html
USDA “Food Pyramid”
A visual diagram of our nation’s current dietary suggestions.
http://www.mypyramid.gov/downloads/MiniPoster.pdf
USDA “A Close Look at My Pyramid.”
In-depth analysis of how the food pyramid can be used for your own dietary purposes.
http://teamnutrition.usda.gov/resources/mpk_close.pdf
State Curriculum and Philanthropy Theme Frameworks:
See individual lessons for benchmark detail.
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